ILLAN TALKS ALL THINGS STAR WARS

We have an exclusive shoot now from Illan over at @the_uncanny_photographer and it really is one of his best yet as he details his passion for all things Star Wars through some really striking imagery that utilises all his photographic skills that have developed throughout his previous features with us.

Exclusive Star Wars Shootby @the_uncanny_photographer

Star Wars toys have been around since Star Wars itself. Back then, the toys were poorly sculpted and had very little articulation. They still have a certain classic charm to them but they’re very difficult to photograph. But they were never meant to be photographed then. They were just toys meant for kids to have fun with. Over time they slowly evolved in the amazing toys they are today.

Of course Star Wars as a whole has brought millions of people together, these toys have inspired many people to take pictures of them. If it weren’t for these toys I don’t think I ever would have gotten into photography. They’ve helped me find something I enjoy doing immensely. I know i’m not the only one who can say that. The toy photography community thrives off of Star Wars. While it can be a little tiring to see very similar shots over and over, that only inspires people to be more creative and try to stand out as much as they can.

The Black Series is one of the easiest toy lines any photographer can start off with. Especially the Stormtroopers. They’re extremely versatile to shoot with and look good doing almost anything. They can go from artistic shots to action poses with ease. The Sand Trooper looks best in action poses and war scenes, as his weathering helps him look gritty and tough. Many photographers can call him their favorite.

The Trooper pictured above was my second Black Series I got. I remember when I first started shooting with him I was trying to replicate the same tones as @shotsfromsabin. Max was a huge inspiration to me before I had started. His shots of the troopers always looked so realistic and I had wanted to do something like what he was doing then. This specific Sand Trooper isn’t just another Trooper to me. It’s what helped me get started in photography as a whole. I hope it continues to inspire other photographers to go out and take as many shots as they can.

Star Wars toy lines extend far past the $20 figures made by Hasbro. They’ve incorporated entire cultures into them. I’ve always been fascinated with Japanese culture ever since I was a kid. Most of my knowledge of Japan came from me always wanting to learn about Ninjas or Samurai. I was thrilled when I was finally able to make my own media based off Japanese culture. On top of that it was all combined with my favorite franchise. I think that’s what makes this figure so great. Looking past all the paint and decorations, this is a toy bringing two cultures together. It’s an even greater toy once you (100) start to see it like that.

This is the fullest extent that my behind the scenes will ever go. I’ve only used photoshop once, and I had to stop doing explosion effects due to fear of getting dust inside my camera. All I do when I go out is bring two cigar boxes with toys inside, and some a few Lego Minifigures. It’s very calming for me to go out and shoot. Especially when I have my speaker with me. This is my favorite thing to do. Nothing else can top it. And all of it started with Star Wars.

A huge thank you goes to Illan for taking the time to really show off his skills in this shoot so be sure to head over to his Instagram @the_uncanny_photographer for a whole load more of this and leave a comment below to let us know your thoughts.

The Exclu Collective is the signature showcasing platform for the creative toy community. We are a team of 11 international creatives who are all, one way or another, embedded within the flourishing toy photography space where art meets popular culture on an expansive scale. We are uniquely positioned to connect the vast toy industry to those most engaged by way of exclusive photography shoots, figure reviews and previews, event news, exclusive interviews and community competitions